Soundings (2/15/11)

Posted by Stowe Talbot 
 
 

Flag Salute and Invocation by Lynn Templeton

Visiting Rotarians: none

Guests: none

Bill's Rotary Around the World: PRC (China) has 8 districts, and over 250 clubs.

Announcements:

Chris White announced an upcoming community service project: Saturday Feb 26th, 11am - 1pm we will be doing landscaping and clean-up work around the Hospice House.

We are still seeking two candidates to attend RYLA (here in Whatcom County) this Spring. If you know someone who might be interested in this wonderful opportunity please see the information send in yesterday's Email. Questions? Call Marla at 540.6883. Thank you!

Induction of new member:  Stan introduced Jorge Alvarez (Stan's 78th sponsored member!). Jorgeis the manager of the Whidbey Island Bank downtown branch - 15 years in the banking industry. He is married to wife Susie and they have three kids. Jorge is active in the Whatcom Hispanic Organization. Barry Kramer conducted the installation.

Ski to Sea team?  Anyone interested in forming a "B'ham Bay Rotary" team for this year's race?  Chris White, Stowe Talbot and Brad Cornwell are in.  We need 6 more bodies.

 

Bucks in the Bay

  • Bill Gorman is a finalist for Whatcom Biz Person of the Year!
  • Phil X's doctor says he is fat but healthy, and he recently celebrated grandkid's 6th birthday at Great Wolf Lodge (indoor waterpark resort in Grandmount, WA) - once is enough!
  • Curtis D for ten COLD days in the Midwest visiting his mother who was in the hospital;
  • Tonja M went to DC, and she is still soliciting flag salute and invocation volunteers - come on people!
  • Barry K very happy bucks that his daughter got a job as caterer at YMCA which allowed her to move back to Bellingham with her family!
  • Harold Scott went to Spokane stayed at historic Davenport Hotel;
  • Pete Rittmueller $ for foundation, skied at Whistler;
  • Sue Sharp $ for 16-year old daughter who recently went to Australia (Queensland) for the school year and wound up right in the middle of the recent Typhoon there;

Sergeant at Arms by Orphalee Smith
Fines for Bill Geyer, Anna and Christine (they both have small, house-trained dogs?), Barry K, Patti, Phil X, St. Paul's Academy-related people, Bill Boyd and Steve Swann superbowl bucks, past presidents, Rotary trivia.

Program
Dennis Archer introduced Sarah Brand, development director for St. Paul's Academy (SPA).  SPA now has three buildings:  The lower school on Northwest Ave, the recently purchased pre-school building on Meridian, and the upper school building under construction.  The three buildings now form a cohesive campus that will accommodate a child's education from pre-K through high school.  The new upper school building, to be completed in a few months, will be 40,000 sq ft, have a gymnasium, library, administrative offices, and classrooms for 5th - 12th grades.  In addition, it is equipped with many state-of-the-art technologies.  The school relies heavily on fundraising to cover costs.  The recent annual dinner-auction raised over $450,000, probably the highest grossing fundraiser event in the area.  Some school facts:

  • Philosophy: Small class sizes, great teachers, rigorous but nurturing environment.
  • Enrollment: Pre-K has 180 kids, K-12 has 243 kids.
  • Tuition: $6200 for lower school and $6500 for upper school.
  • Athletic program:  Will grow as the school enrollment grows.
  • Field trips and travel: Important experiential component to education.
  • Community service.
  • Community support:  Thanks to our Rotary club, and many of its members for their support.

Sarah and Stephanie will be leading a tour of the new building: Saturday Feb 26th at 10am, meet in the lobby of the Northwest Ave. building.

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot